Hose nozzle



Sept. 3, 1963 J. c. GALL HOSE NOZZLE Filed June 5, 1962 IIV/ Am? 2 n0@ 3 8 23 mw 3 .w w 4 l INVENTOR John C. Gal Z United States Patent C) 3,102,691 HSE NZZLE John C. Gall, Chicago, Ill., assigner` to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Filedlune 5, 1962, Ser. No. 200,205 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-456) yMy invention relates to nozzles of the type especially adapted for use in connection with garden hoses.

A particular object of my invention is to produce a new and, improved nozzle wherein the stream of liquid emitted from the nozzle may be quickly varied from a solid stream to a relatively linespray, and can be turned on or off with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide a nozzle of the type referred to wherein the flow can be positively stopped or started by a relatively short linear motion and without rotation, thus differing from the nozzles commonly in use, which usually require extensive rotation .from full open to full closed position.

Still another object is to provide such a nozzle wherein the stream may lbe varied in volume and pattern in a single revolution or less in an amount` comparable to the stream variations produced by multiple turns in nozzles of the type heretofore known.

Nozzles embodying my invention are characterized by an absence of the usual threaded control of the fluid stream. In lieu thereof, volume control is effected primarily by direct linear motion; variation in spray pattern may be effected -by a single turn or less, and, after shutolf, the last spray pattern may Ibe resumed immediately by simple linear motion opening the valve. Also my invention is characterized by such balancing of forces within a nozzle that manual initiation of either opening or closing of the valve will be automatically completed by the hydraulic forces `within the nozzle.

Another object is to produce a nozzle of the type referred to which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to produce, durable and generally satisfactory.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodiments of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ing my invention,

FIG. 2 is an axial plan-section on an enlarged scale of the nozzle illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional tially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational View, taken from a position indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken` substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan detail of a modiedi form of an element constituting a part of the combination of the improved nozzle seen in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing another alternative or modified form of the same element;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational View of still another modification of the element seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, and

FIGS. 9, 10 and ll are end elevational views of spray patterns produced, respectively, yby parts 6, 7 and S, viewed from the point of ejection.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the nozzle constituting this embodiment of my invention comprises a coupling member 10 having a female threaded rear portion 12 designed to engage a hose and nipple (not shown) and an unthreaded forward portion 15, primarily for esthetic purposes, these two portions Abeing separated by an annular wall 16. As seen in FIG. l the rear portion 12 is preferably exteriorly knurled.

improved nozzle embody- View taken substan- An inner tube 18 is xedly mounted within the coupler 10, said tube 18 having an annular groove 20 formed on its outer surface adjacent one end thereof for receiving the annular wall portion 16 of coupling member 1t). The tube 18 is provided intermediate its ends with a plurality of apertures 22 in the wall thereof. A transversely projecting pin 25 is fixed to the tube 13 to provide a limiting stop, as hereinafter described. v

'Mounted within the forward tubular portion 15 of coupling member 1li for free longitudinal translation or rotation therein is an outer tubular `body member 27, having a knurled manipulating portion 30. Fixedly secured to the inside of outer body member 27 in the course of assembly is intermediate sleeve 33, disposedintermediate body member 27 and tube 18, this sleeve 33 having a forward cam face 35eccentric to the axis ofthe sleeve for reaction against the stop pin 25. An O-ring sealing member 5.9 seated in a groove in tube 13 effects a seal between said tube and sleeve 33. t

The body member 27 terminates at its forward end in a flaring mouth portion 32 of generally frusto-conical contour, said mouth portion 32 meeting a reversely positioned frusto-conically tapered portion 36 in a restricted throat portion 37 `defining a generally circular passageway 40. Tapered portion 36 provides on its inside a tapered valve seat 32%.

The forward end of tube 18 is closed by means of a plug member indicated by the numeral 42, said member 42 being press-fitted within tube 18 and having integral therewith a noncircular enlargement 45. While larger in diameter than the outside diameter of Itube 18, enlargement 45 is so formed relative to the inside diameter of tubular member 27 as to provide bearing surfaces 5,8 cooperating with said inside diameter to maintain alignment between members 27 and 13 and yet provide passages 47 for the ow of fluid. In this particular embodiment the enlarged member 45 happens to be hexagonal in contour; however, it could be any shape which provides the alignment and fluid passages.

Preferably integral with plug `42 and enlargement `45 is a bevelled valve member 48 having a peripheral edge of substantially the same slope as the inside surface of tapered valve seat 38. Between the bevelled portion 49 and polygonal portion 45 is a restricted circular portion 51 providing a space for sealing member- 53 designed to coact with tapered surface 38.

Forwardly of the bevel-led portion 49 and optionally integral therewith is a stem portion 55 having on the forward extremity thereof an enlarged head 5.7.

The bearing surfaces 58 serve the additional important function of maintaining concentricity of aperture 40 on the one hand and the stem 55 and head 57 on the other.

When the parts are in the relative positions seen in FIG. 2, sealing memtber 53 provides the seal against the sloping surface of valve seat 38 and this condition will be maintained when internal huid pressure is applied. It will be apparent that the liuid pressure will act on the annular area of the cam face 35, urging the body. member 27 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2. Correspondingly, the same fluid pressure will act on another :annular area at the opposite end of the body member 27, outside of the sealing ring 53, tending to urge the said body member `to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2. Since the annular area of the cam face 35 is greater than the corresponding area at the opposite end of the body member, there will be La resultant force acting on the cam face 35 and tending to maintain the valve seat 3S in sealing engagement with the sealing member 53. Manual yapplication of a linear external force forward, or to the left (FIG. 2), in excess of said resultant force will cause automatic movement in that direction of the sub-assemg bly 27, 33 with respect to the tubular member 18, i.e.,

Patented Sept. 3, 1963.V

in the direction of separating valve surface 49 from its seat 38 and thus allowing tiuid to ilow from tubular member .18, through apertures 22 into the annuiar space 26, through passages 47 and then past valve member 49 and out through annular aperture dii. Thereafter, the annular area corresponding to the fuil surface of valve seat 38 on which the uid pressure may act actually becomes greater than the annular area of the cam face 3S resulting in a dierential force tending to urge the body member 27 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, in a direction opposite from that hereinabove described. Accordingly, body member 27 will automatically move axially to the left, 'as viewed in FIG. 2, until pin Z5 is engaged by a portion of cam surface 35.

Manual application of a rotational force on sub-assembly 27, 33 in excess of the retentive force, when the pin is in engagement with the cam surface, will permit the stop pin 25 to traverse cam surface 35 and thereby permit variable longitudinal placement of the restricted 'throat 37 relative to head 57 and stern 55. This variation will produce a corresponding alteration of the emitted iiuid stream within the limitations imposed by the dimensional and contour characteristics of stem 5'5, head 5'7 and throat 37.

In the embodiment which has been described up to .this point the contours of stern 55 and throat 37 are circular and concentric, providing an annular passage d@ therebetween and thus permitting variations from a solid stream to a circular spray. However, alterations in contour may be made which will allow biasing of stream cross-section to fiat, oval or multi-sided configurations.

If desired, stern 55 and/0r head portion 57 may be i vvthreaded into the forward end of plug lf2 and, in such cases, these members, as seen in FIG. 2, may conveniently be removed and replaced because of wear or corrosion or for substitution of a corresponding part producing a variation of stream characteristics.

FIG. 6 shows fragmentarily a modification comprising a stern 55a corresponding to stem 55 of FTG. 2, being of circular crosssection with a circular head portion 57a correspon-ding to head S7. The spray pattern of FIG. 9 produced by this element will not differ greatly from that of FIG. 2, bot-h being essentially as seen in FIG. 9.

In the modification of F1o. 7, Stem seb and head 571) atre'again circular, but the head is provided with arcuate concavities 60, producing an elliptical spray pattern as seen in FIG. 10.

The modication of FIG. 8 has an ellipticm head 57e although the stem 55e is circular. Here again an e1- liptical spray is produced, as seen in FIG. 1l.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, l do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

-1. A lhose nozzle, comprising (a) a coupler,

(b) a irst tubular member xed to ing with said coupler,

(c) a second tubular member concentric with and and communicati encompassing said lirst tubular member and defining an annular space therebetween, said second tubular member having a restricted disch-arge passage in the forward portion thereof,

(d) lsaid first tubular member having an aperture permitting passage of fluid `from lthe interior thereof into said annular space,

(e) a sleeve ixed to said second tubular member and fully occupying said annular space for a portion of the length thereof, said second tubular member and sleeve being longitudinally slidable as a unit longitudinally and rotatively on said lirst tubular member,

(f) interengageable means on said iirst tubular member and sleeve, respectively, for limiting the longitudinal positioning of said second tubular member and sleeve relative to the iirst tubular member and including cam means whereby limited rotation of the second tubular member is effective, by the traversing of said interengageable means on each other, to vary considerably the volume and pattern of the emit-ted fluid,

g) means lon said iirst tubular member closing the forward end thereof, and means carried by said closing means extending through said restricted passage to define a generally annular spray passage, said second tubular member providing a valve seat rearwardly of said restricted passage, andy (Il) a valve member carried by said closing means and adjustable toward and away from saidseat by movement ofsaid second tubular member for controlling the ow of uid from said annular space, said second tubular member being freely translatable by straight-line movement relative to said first tubular member to vary said flow between maximum and minimum limits.

2. A device as in claim 1, having non-circular means disposed'between said iirst and second tubular members for maintaining co-axial alignment thereof while permitting passage of uid therebetween.

3. A device as in claim l, wherein the diametrical relationshipbetween the 'first tubular member, the valve seat and they discharge passage is such that, once longitudinal movement of the second tubular member is initiated, the internal pressure between the tubular members will tend to complete such movement and retain said members in the nal position.

4. A combination as in claim 1, wherein the means defining a generally annular spray passage is detachable from said closing means, whereby passage-dening means of different configurations may be selectively attached to said closing means for varying at will the spray pattern.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS n 196,216 Gilchrist Oct. 16, 1877 1,922,519 Armstrong Aug. 15, 1933 2,797,134 Fuller June 25, 1957 2,944,742 Le Blanc July 12, 1960 3,042,318 Ohow et al. July 3, 1962 

1. A HOSE NOZZLE, COMPRISING (A) A COUPLER, (B) A FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER FIXED TO AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID COUPLER, (C) A SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER CONCENTRIC WITH AND ENCOMPASSING SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER AND DEFINING AN ANNULAR SPACE THEREBETWEEN, SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING A RESTRICTED DISCHARGE PASSAGE IN THE FORWARD PORTION THEREOF, (D) SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE PERMITTING PASSAGE OF FLUID FROM THE INTERIOR THEREOF INTO SAID ANNULAR SPACE, (E) A SLEEVE FIXED TO SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER AND FULLY OCCUPYING SAID ANNULAR SPACE FOR A PORTION OF THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER AND SLEEVE BEING LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLE AS A UNIT LONGITUDINALLY AND ROTATIVELY ON SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER, (F) INTERENGAGEABLE MEANS ON SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER AND SLEEVE, RESPECTIVELY, FOR LIMITING THE LONGITUDINAL POSITIONING OF SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER AND SLEEVE RELATIVE TO THE FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER AND INCLUDING CAM MEANS WHEREBY LIMITED ROTATION OF THE SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER IS EFFECTIVE, BY THE TRAVERSING OF SAID INTERENGAGEABLE MEANS ON EACH OTHER, TO VARY CONSIDERABLY THE VOLUME AND PATTERN OF THE EMITTED FLUID, (G) MEANS ON SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER CLOSING THE FORWARD END THEREOF, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CLOSING MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID RESTRICTED PASSAGE TO DEFINE A GENERALLY ANNULAR SPRAY PASSAGE, SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER PROVIDING A VALVE SEAT REARWARDLY OF SAID RESTRICTED PASSAGE, AND (H) A VALVE MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID CLOSING MEANS AND ADJUSTABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SEAT BY MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID FROM SAID ANNULAR SPACE, SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER BEING FREELY TRANSLATABLE BY STRAIGHT-LINE MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER TO VARY SAID FLOW BETWEEN MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM LIMITS. 